Looks like people there watching the match appreciated the players much more than MTF

I know it's shocking, but it seems like at the AO, there are real tennis fans who are watching the matches (which was also noticable earlier in teh tourney when they applauded Monaco for his effort) You don't see too many of those posting here in GM.

While I thought Gilles played well for the first two sets, (the match got bad once Gilles got injured mid third set) the reason they usually play this way against each other is the match-up. Gael knows Gilles loves pace so he loops the ball to not give Gilles any pace and then because Gilles can't create his own pace he ends up pushing the ball back as well so it ends up a battle of wills as to who blinks first. That said, I have no idea why Gael didn't change his game plan once it was clear Gilles couldn't move.

What a brutal pushfest that was. It was like the battle of the walking dead out there. These two should never be allowed to play each other ever again. Simon is always boring but the amazing thing was Monfils had one of the most entertaining matches of the 1st week vs Dolgopolov.

that is so bad :0 but so bad it might be good. which I had caught this. it is a shame, Simon pushing vs. Murray pushing would have been interesting but now he will be sleepy and tired and not even take a set probably

It is by choice for Gilles as it is his best chance of winning. He isn't going to out power many players in even the top 50, he has to be patient and pick the perfect ball to attack. When you have limited physical strength and you hit pretty flat you have to have the right ball to go for or you will just hit errors.

Simon plays smart for his game and body. Monfils on the other hand doesn't and I bet Gilles wishes he had the option and physical capabilities of Monfils.

What I'm trying to say is that there's a difference between measured aggression and what Simon does. You're telling me because he has chicken legs that he has to hit 10 rally balls down the middle of the court at the start of every point? It's not smart - it's just a pedestrian submissive style of play that makes for poor viewing and arbitrarily long matches.

Monfils is worse since he's more capable but he never gets heralded as a spartan for clowning around.

Everything that happened in this match was possible because he played an opponent has mind numbing as himself. Monfils and Simon are the masters of hitting 20 powderpuff rally balls followed by one random big shot which usually gets retrieved, then following up with another rally ball which renders the previous attacking shot absolutely useless. They both have the ability to hit attacking shots so these 30+ rallies are not due to the physical limitations - it's by choice.

It is by choice for Gilles as it is his best chance of winning. He isn't going to out power many players in even the top 50, he has to be patient and pick the perfect ball to attack. When you have limited physical strength and you hit pretty flat you have to have the right ball to go for or you will just hit errors.

Simon plays smart for his game and body. Monfils on the other hand doesn't and I bet Gilles wishes he had the option and physical capabilities of Monfils.